Scots pipe up about Royal Oak's Tartan Day party

ROYAL OAK — Lads in plaid and bonnie lasses will gather downtown Thursday to mark the ninth annual Tartan Day.

Listen for bagpipers and watch for hairy-legged men in kilts at Lily’s Seafood, 410 S. Washington Ave., starting at 5 p.m.

Owner Bob Morton will host another celebration of Scotland’s declaration of independence from feudal English control some 693 years ago.

We all know how that ended, with Scotland now part of the United Kingdom. Even so, the diplomatic assertion is cause for celebration for those of Scottish descent and fans of single malts, Celtic music and traditional foods.

“We’re going all out this year to really bring the true taste and feel of Scotland to Royal Oak,” Morton said.

As part of the festivities, Scotsman Franklin Dohanyos will recite the famous Robert Burns’ poem, “Ode to a Haggis” at about 5:45 p.m. The pudding contains sheep’s pluck (heart, liver and lungs) minced with onion, oatmeal, and spices and is simmered for three hours in a sausage casing or animal’s stomach.

Lily’s is named after Morton’s grandmother, Lily Strange, a Scottish immigrant.

National Tartan Day is officially April 6. The occasion is marked by parties and gatherings, not only to recall Scotland’s independence, but to celebrate Scottish heritage.

“We want to fill the place to the rafters. We’ve got quite an evening planned at Lily’s,” said Dohanyos, executive director of the Scottish American Society of Michigan. “The Scots have a long, proud history in Michigan and we are carrying on that tradition.”

Lily’s is open until midnight on Thursday but the kitchen closes at 10 p.m.

This year’s event features the Alma College Pipe Band, Michigan Scottish Pipe Band, Raggle Taggle Band, Highland Dancers, and a full meal, including Ackroyd’s Scotch pies and bridies (meat pastries).

Tickets are $25 each for adults and $15 for kids under 10. They must be purchased in advance at www.scotsofmichigan. This is Michigan’s “official” Tartan Day Ceilidh as decreed by the governor’s office in 2010. Funds raised will go to a fine arts scholarship for a student at Alma College.